OA10740A - Valve connector - Google Patents

Abstract

Valve connector for connecting to inflation valves of vehicle tyres, comprising within a housing (164, 35, 302, 134), to be connected to a pressure source, one coupling hole (5) for enabling coupling of the valve connector to inflation valves of at least first and second valve types of inflation valves, and means (162-167; 43, 48, 50; 304, 303; 140, 139) for axially shifting an activating pin (161, 40, 312, 318, 142) selectively into a distal shifting position which distal shifting position corresponds to the activating pin engaging with the central spring-force operated core pin of the first valve type of inflation valves when coupled to the coupling hole for allowing the conduction of gaseous media through the inflation valve, the activationg pin being further movable into a proximal shifting position which is farther away from the outer opening of the coupling hole than said distal shifting position and corresponds to the activating pin being inside the housing for allowing inflation of the second valve type of inflation valves when coupled to the coupling hole. <IMAGE> <IMAGE>

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD 010740

The invention concerns a valve connector for inflation through varyingvalves of vehicle tvres according to the introduction to claim 1.

For reasons of.clarity, some of the standards used will be cited. In the ISO 5 standard No 10475:1992(E), thread for tvre inflation valves of vehicles is de-scribed. The most used threads are designated 5V2 (DIN: Vg 5,2). which has anominal diameter of 5.2 mm and a pitch of 1.058 mm, and SV1 (DIN: Vg 8), whichhas a nominal diameter of 7.7 mm and a pitch of 0.794 mm respectively. Thesethread types are used in the valve types of Dunlop-Woods. Sclaverand orio Schrader. The last mentioned valve type is frequently used on common cars, where a spring-loaded pin head in the valve core must be kept down in prépa-ration of the passage of air, while pumping a tyre. For this purpose, the valveconnector must be equipped with suitable means, which can serve this aim.Moreover, suitable means, e.g. a contra valve or the like, must be used to ensureis that loss of air is avoided when activating the valve core pin. The Sclaverand valve has - just like the Dunlop-Woods valve - the distinctive character that itscore pin is solely opened by air pressure. The necessary air pressure for open -ing a Sclaverand valve is up to 16 bar, and the valve is mostly used in connec-tion with high-pressure tyres with a pressure of up to 16 bar. The opening :o pressure for the Dunlop-Woods valve is approximately 4 bar, which ensuresthat it is easier to open.

It is commonly known from mechanical engineering, that when con -necting a nut to a thread the axial length of the thread TN for a nut N is > 0,8 xthe outer diameter DN of the corresponding screw, i.e. TN > 0,8 x DN. This rule of 25 thumb is used for highly-loaded constructions, where the thread is fastenedwith a wrench.

B ACKGRQUND OF THE INVENTION

Well-known valve connectors (e.g. GB-B-977,139) can only be connected to’o the Dunlop-Woods valve type and/or the Sclaverand valve type, or the Schrader valve type. A well-known connector for a Schrader valve is of the type, where a rub -ber cylinder is tightly squeezed against the stem by means of a lever, whichaxially compresses the rubber cylinder. Consequently, the rubber cylinder is 35 squeezed radially against the stem. With reference to different valve diameters, it is necessary, that auxiliary equipment (nut 6) is screwed onto or out of the valve thread to reduce or increase the internai diameter in advance to ensure _,a- 010740 the establishment of a connection from the valve connector to other valve di-ameters. Loose parts can disappear and can be loosened when used, if the pumphose is tumed, so that the connection is no longer air-tight. The disadvantageof this connector type is that the user has to apply much strength when using 5 the lever. It is necessary to use both hands to stabilize the (dis)connection. 2 010740 GB-B-15 99 304 shows an universal valve connecter which can be screwed on ail valvetypes. The thread (4) corresponding to 8V1 also keeps the bushing (26) in position. Thebushing (26) has an internai thread (30) corresponding to 5V2 for Sclaverand or Dunlop-Woods valves. The core pin of the Schrader valve is opened mechanically by means of aj stationary pin indicated with (12). The disadvantage of this connecter type is that the bus-hing (26) with a 5V2 thread has to be removed before connecting to a Schrader valve, andalso that the bushing (26) must be mounted again before connecting to a Dunlop-Woods orSclaverand valve. Also in this case Ioose parts are used. They can disappear and loosen when used, if the pump hose is tumed, resulting in an untight connection.io From DE-B 38 19 771, an universal connecter on a handpump with two coupling holes is known: one for Dunlop-Woods and Sclaverand valves and one for Schrader valves ofwhich the core pin is opened mechanically. The disadvantage of this way of coupling isfirstly, that it cannot be fastened to a valve and secondly, that it can only be used in acertain position, where the coupling hole is tumed almost vertically upwards, and finallyis that the user has to find out which of the two holes to use for the valve in question. Thisprior art has, therefore, no interest, when it is essential, that the user can use the couplingwithout studying the type of valve, the user instructions, and décidé which coupling holeshould be used and thereafter tum the wheel with the valve to a correct, upright position for the valve coupling in question. » From US-A-2 025 067 a coupling is known, where tubes of different diameters can be coupled to matching diameters in a tube. This prior art is intended for tightening againstpipes without threads, and the axial displacement of each sealing is not décisive. This kindof coupling is meant for a tank filling device. The gaskets used for sealing the adapter arebasically mushroom-shaped with the stem of the mushroom arranged between trapézoïdal 25 walls in the adapter, thereby leaving a semî-circular sealing to tighten against the nozzleswithout threads. Using a threaded tube in such a gasket would destroy the gasket after fewconnections.

Another well-known universal valve type, which, apparently, does not exist in thepatent literature, is of the same type as the one of the above mentioned GB-B-15 99 304. » This rubber cylinder consists of two adjacent parts of different diameter and length, fittingon 5V2 and 8V1 threads, respectively. Axially, proximally staggered on the centre line ofthe holes it is possible to mount a means, which can open the core pin of a Schrader valve.The disadvantage of 010740 -2A- this coupling is partlÿ that both hands must be used to stabilize the (dis-)-connection of the relevant valve types and partly that the rubber cylinder must be taken out of the housing and turned upside down to make connection tovalves with different thread types possible, so that the coupling’ place for con- s necting the valve is always positioned closest to the opening of the couplinghole. Also, the pin which mechanically opens the Schrader valve has to beturned in the above-mentioned operation. This is a problem for the ordinarv user, as both means must be positioned correctly in relation to each other· in order to be - able to connect the coupling to a valve: combinatorily, there are 10 four possibilities to select from. which can only be done .correctly if a usermanual is available. Apart from that, the above-mentioned 'means can be lost,loosened or disappear in the said operation. _3_ 010740

From WO-A-92/22448 it is known to provide a sealing means. which is placed in a single level, and from GB-B-977.139 a valve connector operated by a lever cam is known. Common to both prior art references is that thev can only be used together with a Schrader valve, and that neither Sclaverand type nor 5 Dunlop-Woods type valves can be served by this type of connector, as the seal- ing means only show one diameter fitting e.g. the Schrader valve.

THE QBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Inflating a tvre is a problem to manv people, especially if the tyres hâve!0 different valve types, and only one pump has to be used. This is the case in mosthouse-holds. The aim of the invention is to provide a valve connector which fitson ail current valve types, which is easy to operate, is economical. and whichhas the possibility of automatically adjusts itself to the valve in question. Also, it should be possible to use the connector with existing pumps.is According to the invention this task is solved by means of the provisions in the characterising part of claim 1.

By a connector for inflation valves of vehicle tyres, where the connectorconsists of a housing connected to a pressure source, preferably a hand or fôotpump, and with a coupling hole with a diameter corresponding to the diameter 20 of the valve to which it is connected, where the coupling hole is equipped witha securing means for securing on the valve and sealing means against valves ofdifferent sizes, the invention is provided by the fact that the sealing means arepositioned coaxially in the housing behind the coupling hole and are estab -lished in at least two parallel discrète levels with the centre line of the housing 25 as their normal, where the sealing means’ inner diameter approximately corre-spond to the outer diameter of the current valve size to which the coupling isconnected, when used, that the sealing means which is closest to the opening ofthe coupling hole in· the housing has the largest inner diameter, whereas thesealing means farthest from the opening of the coupling hole in the housing 3o has the smallest inner diameter, and the diameters between the extremes are in corresponding discrète distances between these extremes. The coupling place on a valve, which is to be connected, is positioned against a sealing surface on the sealing means in the coupling hole of the concerned valve. The connectorhas only ohé coupling hole. The use of it is therefore simple, even without aîs user manual, and loose nipples are superfluous. Therefore, a connection can always be established in only one operation. 0)0740 -4 -

In an appropriate· embodiment of the invention, it is suggested that the se- curing means is a rotational bushing mounted on the housing, which is equipped with a thread in the coupling hole, which fits on the respective valves, and which -is seaied with the sealing means against the connector 5 housing, which is farthest from the coupling hole in the connector housing.

The connector can be positioned here on the valve with an airtight connection, which does not become untight, when the connected hose is turned. In addition, mounting is quickly accomplished without applying significant strength. (Dis)-Connecting of the coupling can be done using onlv one hand. io To reduce the wear of the gasket seal surface in the connector housing and also to reduce the force by means of which the rotational bushing has to beturned, and furthermore to ensure a reliable sealing against valves with 5V2 thread, a still more appropriate embodiment suggests that the innermost thread is provided by a bushing with a 5V2 thread, where the bushing is embedded and is - slightly - axially sliding in a taper milling in the rotational coupling bushing and is coupled rotational-free to the coupling bushing by means of a set of ribs, which are distributed around the bushing circumference, and which are geared into corresponding grooves in the coupling bushing, and that the seal- ing means rests on a stepped milling. This ensures that frictional forces do notίο occur between the gasket seal and the coupling bushing during the main part of its fastening and unscrewing, whereas the coupling bushing is pulling theconnector housing and its gasket seal against the valve when tightening.Tightening occurs against the core of the valve thread and is stabilized as a re- suit of the reduced radius of the inner part of the gasket seal. 25 In order to be able to use the valve connector on a Sclaverand type valve, which is not standardized, i.e. some of the threads are removed thereby formingtwo parallel sécants on each side of the Sclaverand type valve, a further devel-opment of the inner bushing is suggested, whereby the inner bushing is run-ning in an undercut grove in the valve housing. Such Sclaverand type valve 3o can not tighten against the sealing means, and the presurized air will try toescape through the sécant openings. By running in the undercut grove thebushing will tighten against this when mounting the valve connector on thevalve.

In connection with the (dis)connection with only one hand the connector 35 is provided by means of temporary thread, i.e. created by squeezing e.g. a rub-ber cylinder against the existing valve thread of which the securing means andsealing means in a well-known way consist of the bushing of a déformable ma- 010740 - ο - terial posicioned in the housing, preferably a rubber type material shaped likea “H”, and that a piston is mounted proximally to the valve and the rubberbushing which has two extremes to establish an axial compression and releaseof the rubber bushing, and also a lever for activating the piston, where the axis 5 of the lever is placed perpendicularly to the centre line and concentrical withthis, and that the lever for activating the piston is turned from a positionforming an angle Ψ with the centre line to a position almost perpendicular tothe centre line,, where a locking means of the lever is working together with acorrespondin^ locking means of the housing, whereby the locking means ofio the lever, as an example, is provided in the construction of the lever. In a spé-cial advatageous embodiment a reaction arm is applied to. .absorb the reactionforces originating from the movement of the lever arm between the two posi- tions. This measure ensures a reliable securing and a simple operation.

With this embodiment of the connector, it is possible to mount same, using is just one hand, as the lever is taken down to its locking position by just a simplesqueezing of the lever and the reaction arm parallel to the hose connection onthe connector housing. By this action the piston is pressed against the rubberbushing, which is tightly squeezed radially against the concemed valve.

In an improved embodiment of the valve connector, the rubber bushing is :o provided with at the least one external V-shaped incision in the circumference perpendicular to the center axis close to those parts sqeezing against the threads of the valve. Through such incisions the rubber bushing is predeter -mined to excert the largest radial force against the threads exactly where the incisions are, and the user of the valve connector will expérience a soft work- 25 ing lever arm. In order to support this purpose further and securing the valve connector on the valve even under high pressures it is suggested, that a pref-erably torroidal shaped ring is arranged in the incisions, thereby stressing the excerted radial forces.

The embodiment with the lever arm is designated: a bending-moment-free 30 (dis)-connection, as the valve may not carry any bending-moment by the (dis)-connection. Connection to almost ail valves is possible, as such connector typemight be able to open a core pin in such Schrader valve, which is opening at anair pressure of approximately 5-6 bar. The air pressure in the pump hose is ofthe same magnitude as when a high-pressure tyre provided with a Sclaverand 35 valve is inflated. This is optimally achieved by using a high-pressure hand or foot-operated bicycle pump. There are core pin types which cannot be opened by means of air pressure of an ordinary bicycle pump (e.g. 10 bar max.). Con- 010740 -6 - necting can be done easily and comfortably in two wavs. Either the last men - tioned core type is being replaced with the first mentioned one and the em- bodiments of the invention without a pin are being used as a connector. or the core can - accordîng to an appropriate embodiment of the invention - be 5 opened by a pin placed in continuation of and coaxiallv to the centre line of the connector housing, which is transported by axial shifting from a position far -thest from the valve (fig. 4A) to activate the central pin head of the core (fig.4B). By this embodiment, the necessary pumping force is considerablv lower.when a Schrader valve is to be inflated, because no air pressure is used forto opening the valve. Inflation can therefore be done with an ordinary bicycle pump.

As a means for automatic sliding the activating pin in the housing from apassive to an active position, the activating pin is constructed as a pistonequipped with a suitable securing means and a piston rod, which can slide inπ the cylinder shaped housing, and which, without any physical load, is held in asealing longitudinal position against the cylinder wall, so that the sliding of thepiston after the connection of the valve connector occurs by means of the com-pressed air which is transported from the pressure source, and so that the pis-ton in the position farthest from the wheel valve seals less than 100% against :o the cylinder wall.

With a valve connector according to claim 1 equipped with such automaticsliding activating pin it is possible to mount the valve connector equipped witha valve to a compresser hose, which can be available to the public known, e.g.from bicycle shops, etc. There, it is not necessary to fasten the valve connector 25 to the valve, as the user excerts the pressure necessary to secure an airtight connection.

With such valve connector, inflating tyres without the user having to identify the valve type and functioning has become possible. The operationconveniency has also increased significantly, and it will now be easier for the 30 user to inflate the tyre to the correct pressure, which in general eases the driving and reduces tyre abrasion. At the same time, a contra valve function is added to the Schrader valves in that the valve only opens the core of theSchrader valve when sufficient air pressure is fed from the pressure sourceand air thus cannot escape from the tyre during inflation. 35 In an appropriate embodiment of the 'valve connector according to the in- vention, it is suggested that the piston is constructed with a central, axially sliding valve, which is elastically pressed to a closing position against the pis- 010740 -7 - ton top. This provides a well-defined opening zone, which is not influenced byabrasion in the piston guide, and the increasing opening of the core securesthe passage of compressed air from the pressure source as well.

As an example, the central, axially sliding valve on the piston can in a 5 suitable way be activated by the fact, that the piston valve is levered with avalve lever, which reaches excentricly through the piston, and by the fact thata spring between the piston and its valve keeps the valve closed when the pis-ton does not influence the core in the wheel valve.

Alternatively, the piston valve can be levered with a core pin which con -io centrically reaches axially through the piston, where it is held with a spring ina position distally from the piston. It has thus become possible to provide thepiston with a reliable function within the limits established by the ISO standard,as the piston with the core pin automatically adjusts its length to the limits of the valve in question. is The latter embodiments ensure a safe functioning of the valve lever, be- cause it is enclosed and only influenced by axially directed forces. Also, thebridge on the Schrader valve can be used for activating the piston valve. Fur -ther, the reaction forces from the piston is led to the air and not to the me-chanical constructions. :o The Schrader valve has the biggest major diameter of the external thread (thread type ISO 4570/3 8V1, ISO 10475:1992-12Vl resp.) and the coupling placeis closest to the opening of the coupling hole. The Dunlop-Woods cores and theSclaverand valves hâve the same thread type, where the major diameter of theexternal thread (thread type ISO 4570/2 5V2) is smaller than the minor diameters of internai thread SV1. Therefore, it is possible that the Dunlop-Woods core typeand the Sclaverand valve type can pass both the coupling place of 8V1 threadsand 12V1 threads. Consequently, the coupling place of the connecting of 5V2thread is farthest from the opening of the coupling hole. The 5V2 thread of theDunlop-Woods core (both the type which is DIN normed and the type which in 3o daily language is called the 'bail valve'), is sufficiently sticking out over thenut 8V1 which is keeping the core to the stem and of which the major diameteris less than the minor diameter of the internai thread for the 12V1 thread in thebushing. There is, therefore, enough space for at least two thread types eachwith a corresponding seal ring. The same applies for the squeezing connec- 35 tions, according to the invention, where the connector is squeezed to form a temporary thread. The said 8V1 nut cannot pass the coupling place of the

Schrader valve. That is due to the fact that the major diameter of the said nut is 010740 -8 - bigger than the diameter of the biggest hole in the rubber cylinder (a majordiameter of external thread 8V1). The beginning of the coupling place of the5V2 thread is at distance a from the opening of the coupling hole. As the load onthe connection is low, it is not necessary to use the entire length of the internai 5 thread, as generally accepted rules say 0.8 x of the size of the coupled externalthread. This rule is based on mechanical constructions which are high-loadedand where the thread is fastened by a wrench. It is therefore possible that thecoupling place of the 5V2 thread is behind the coupling place of the 8V1 thread.

The invention can exist in a number of embodiments which will appeario from the dépendent daims.

SPECIFICATION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in details below by means of drawings. The 15 drawing shows in: fig. 1 the universal connector in the first embodiment con - nected to the hose of a (high-pressure) foot pump, where the connector is screwed on the valve and a Schrader valve type can be opened by air pressure; :o fig. 2A the connector according to fig. 1 in a second embodi-ment where the bushing with a 5V2 thread and a gasket sealing for Schrader can slide parallel to the centre line; fig. 2B a rendering of details of the connector according to fig.2A, (section A-A); 25 fig· 3 the connector according to fig. 2 in a third embodiment designed to be used on a Sclaverand valve, which is not according to the ISO-standard; fig. 4A,B universal connector according to fig. 1 in a fourth em-bodiment where the coupling is screwed on the valve, 30 and a Schrader valve can be opened mechanically bymeans of a pin, where the pin feed mechanism is con-structed with a thread and where the pin is shown in thetop and bottom position, respectively; fig. 5A,B universal connector according to figs. 4A, 4B in a fifth 35 embodiment, where the pin feed mechanism is con-structed with a big thread pitch, and where the pin isshown in the top and bottom position, respectively; -9- 010740 fig. 6 a rendering of details of the connector according' to fig. fig· 7 5A (section X - X) and fig. 5B, (section Y-Y); t feed cylinder of the embodiment according to fig. 5A, 5B, 5 fig· 8 (section Z-Z); a valve connector according to fig. 1 in a sixth embodi-ment, where the coupling is screwed on the valve, and a Schrader valve can be opened automaticallv bv means of iO a pin being a piston, where the piston is shown in itsdistal position, where pressurized air can pass throughthe piston being also a control valve; fig· 9 a valve connector. according to fig. 8 in a-seventh em-bodiment, where the piston is equipped with a valvewhich is levered by an excentric valve lever; fig· 10 another connector in an eighth embodiment, where the 15 fig. H piston is equipped with a valve which is levered by aconcentric valve lever; the piston is shown in a position on the way to the core of a Schrader valve, where thevalve on top of the piston is closed; universal connector in a ninth embodiment connected 20 to a hose of a (high-pressure) foot pump, where theconnector is squeezed on the valve and a Schrader valvecan be opened by means of air pressure; fig. 12A,B universal connector in a tenth embodiment, which is a 25 further development of the embodiment of fig. 5, wherethe coupling is connected to a hose of a foot pump, andwhere the coupling is squeezed on the valve, and a Schrader valve can be opened mechanically by means ofa movable pin, which is in the top and bottom position,respectively; 30 fig. 12C section A-A according to fig, 12A resp. section B-B ac-cording to fig. 12B - non-essential details are not shown; fig. 13 universal connector in a spécial embodiment made forthe purpose of being used in vehicle wheels with a nar-row opening for the connector, where the connector is 35 squeezed on the valve, and a Schrader valve is opened bymeans of the automatically movable pin; 10 010740 fig. 14 fig. 15 10 universal connecter in a twelfth embodiment, where thecoupling is squeezed on the valve using a rubber bush-ing with incisions and a toroid ring in each incision,and where a Schrader valve can be opened by means ofthe automatically movable pin, which is formed as apiston and is shown in the bottom position;universal connecter in a thirteenth embodiment, wherethe coupling is squeezed on the valve using a rubberbushing with incisions and a toroid ring in each inci-sion, where the coupling is squeezed on the valve, and aSchrader valve is opened by means of the automaticallymovable pin, which is formed as a piston with a controlvalve and is shown in the bottom position;

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In fig. 1 the pump hose 1 is mounted on the housing 3 by means of the ring clamp 2. The housing 3 is bent in an angle of e.g. 3O°-6O° in relation to the centre line 4 of coupling hole5. The bushing 6 is in the shown embodiment equipped with two ISO thread types: 5V2 » thread 7 starting farthest from the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5 and 8V1 thread 9 startingat the above-mentioned opening. At (dis-)connection, the bushing 6 is tumed around and iskept in the grooves 11 of the housing 3 by means of grip-hooks 10. The gasket seals 12 and13 are tightening against the thread types 5V2 and 8V1. The gasket seal 12 is also tighteningthe Crossing 14 between the housing 3 and the bushing 6 when the connecter is used on a îs Schrader valve. The underside of the bushing 6 is equipped with a taper 15.

Fig. 2A shows a second embodiment. The housing 190 is equipped with a coupling bus- hing 191, which freely and without friction can tum around the housing 190 because of thesmall space b between the sealing means 192 and the bushing 193 together with the connecterbushing 191. The gasket seal 194 for the Schrader valve is placed freely in the connecter » bushing 191, on the thread 8V1 195. The bushing 193 with the 5V2 thread is unattached butaxially moveable in à taper milling 202 in connecter bushing 191. Both can be shifted parallelwith the centre line of the valve. The sealing means 200 is embedded in a stepped milling 201in the housing 190 with an extemal part 192, which is also tightening the Crossing betweenthe housing 190 and the connecter bushing 35

CiΟ 740 - Il - 191. The bushing 193' can turn together with the connector bushing 191 as it isequipped with at least two ribs 196 which fit into corresponding grooves 197(fig. 2B) in the connector bushing 191. When a Dunlop-Woods or Sclaverandvalve is connected. - the sealing means 200 is tightening on the minor diameterof the valve thread. The valve is stopped at the edge 198. so that the nut of theDunlop-Woods valve is not fastening itself on the underside 199 of the 8V1thread. At the top, the sealing means 200 has a radially stepped, reduced diurne -ter.

Fig. 3 présents another connector designed to be used on a Sclaverandvalve, which is not according to the ISO-standard. In such valve some of thethreads are removed thereby forming two parallel sécants on each side of theSclaverand type valve. Such Sclaverand type valve can not tighten against thesealing means 330 of the above mentioned valve connectors, as the presurizedair will try to escape through the sécant openings. The bushing 340 is fastenedto the housing 341 by means of détachable locking means 339, reaching into anexternal grove on the housing 341 perpendicular to the center axis. The inter-nai sealing means 330 and the external sealing means 332 are arranged be-tween the coupling bushing 331 and the housing 341 resp. the bushing 340. Thecoupling bushing 331 tightens against the undercut grove in the housing 341assisted by another sealing means 333 fitting into the undercut grove. Whenmounting the valve connector on the valve, the coupling bushing is runningin the undercut grove in the valve housing, and if Sclaverand type valve cannot tighten against the sealing means 330, · the air will move into the space be -tween the coupling bushing 331 and the other sealing means 333.

Fig. 4A and 4B show the connector according to fig. 1, where the pin 161 isbuilt-in in the knob 162, which is kept in a groove 160 of the housing 164 by means of grip-hooks 163. The knob 162 is equipped with internai thread 165 with a large pitch. When the knob 162 is turned around, the pin 161 is shiftedaxially on the centre line 4 of the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5, as the pin 161 is equipped with fins 166 running in slits 167 of this hole 5. Sealing is done with one gasket seal 168. The knob 162 is made of e.g. elastic material. The pin161 is shown in fig.4A in the top position 18 and in fig. 4B in the bottom position32.

In fig. ’5A - 7 the pump hose 1 is connected to the housing 35 by means ofthe ring clamp 2. The angle a between the centre line 36 of the ring clamp 2and the centre line 4 of the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5 is e.g. 30°- 60°. Thebushing 6 with internai thread and gasket seals is identical to that of fig. 1. The 010740 - 12 - pin 40 can move along the centre line 4 of the coupling hole 5 from position 18to position 32, when the knob 43 is turned from position 44 (fig. 5A) to position45 (fig. 5B) and vice versa. On the underside. the knob 43 is equipped with radi-ally internai, rotating jut 46 surrounding a corresponding bulb 47, and it iss locked pivotally in position 44 and 45 when the knob 43 catches the bulb 47: seesection X-X (fig. 6). The cylinder 48 is directly connected to the knob 43. In the cylinder 48 there are two slits 49, 50 of which one 49 is open on the opposite side of the knob 43. The two round protrusions 51, 52 of the pin 40 are moving dia- metrically opposite each other in the slits 49, 50. At both ends, the slits 49. 50 io with the centre Unes 53, 54, which are parallel to the centre line 4. hâve twoslits 55, 56, 57, 58, which are placed diametrically opposite each other. wherethe centre Unes 59, 60, 61, 62 lie perpendicularly to the centre Unes 53, 54. Theslits 55, 56, 57, 58 end in a half circle, of which the centre 63, 64, 65, 66 liesslightly further from the closest side of the slits 49, 50 than the radius of theis protrusions 51, 52. Moreover, the protrusions 51, 52 are moving in the internaithread 67 from the coupling hole 5. The thread pitch 67 is so large that theturning knob 43 only has to turn approx. 240° from position 44 to 45 or re -versed. When the knob 43 is turned, the slits 49, 50, 55, 56, 57, 58 push the pro-trusions 51, 52 in the thread 67. The turning knob 43 is fastened on the housing :o 35 by means of grips 68, which are moving behind an internai jut 69 in theknob. The above-mentioned construction becomes air-tight by means of a gas-ket seal 70 at the top of the housing 35. On the sides of the housing 35 at the po-sitions 44 and 45 there are symbols 71, 72, 73 of the valve types which can beconnected. 25 In fig. 8 a section of a valve connector according to the invention is shown in a partial longitudinal section, where the piston 304 is shown in itsdistal position, in which it presses the core of a Schrader valve to be completelyopen. In this way, air from the pressure source can pass through the cylinder303 and e.g. through an central blind drilling 309 positioned axially in the pis- 3o ton 304 and in the piston rod 312, which ends in the piston rod 312 at abranched, radially directed drilling 310, which ends on the other side of a pis-ton control 308 sealed with e.g. an O-ring 311. This arrangement of the drill-ings ensures a maximum pressure on the piston for the opening of the core ofthe Schrader valve, after which an opening for air pressure is provided when 35 the core of the Schrader valve is almost entirely open. The piston 304 itself is sealed with another O-ring 305 against the cylinder wall 303, which at an ap- propriate distance corresponding to at least the stroke of a core of a Schrader 010740 13 valve above the distal piston position is equipped with means 307 for réduction of the sea-ling. This arrangement is applied in order to make it possible for the air to pass the piston304 when it is proximally displaced at the application of the valve connector on othervalves than Schrader type valves. In this position, the piston rod 312 is also displaced so $ much from the distal position that the blind drilling 310 is positioned above the sealed panof the cylinder wall 303. The distal pan of the piston rod 312 is constantly guided in thepiston control 308, and in order to lead air to the valve in question, the piston rod 312 ishere equipped with longitudinal air ducts 306, which allow the air to pass the piston rod312 past the sealed piston control 308 with the sealing means 311. io Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of the valve connector according to this invention in a partial longitudinal section, where the piston 304 is equipped with a valve 317 which islevered by an excentric valve lever 315. Here the piston valve 317 is placed on top of thepiston 304, where it has a central core pin 318 on the lower side, which at the passage tothe valve has partly a radially directed blind drilling 313 and partly an O-ring 314, whichu provides sealing between the valve 317 and the piston 304. The radially directed blinddrilling 313 ends in a central, axially directed blind drilling 309’, which goes through thecore pin 318 from the blind drilling 313 away from the valve 317. At the distal end of thecore pin 318 an extension spring 316 is secured at the distal end of the piston rod 312 andpull to close the valve 317, when this is not subjected to other forces. When the piston 304 » is moving in the cylinder 303, piston 304 and valve 317 are concomitant. The valve 317can be opened when the piston cornes doser to its distal position, where a valve lever 315is stopped by a terminal surface in the cylinder 303. This stops the concomitant movementof piston 304 and valve 317, and then first the sealing 314 and then shortly afterwards theblind drilling 313 are levered above the piston 304. This makes it possible for the com- 2s pressed air above the piston 304 to escape through the blind drillings 313 and 309’. Thecompressed air is then led to the core of the Schrader valve which is by now completelyopen.

Fig. 10 shows another embodiment of the valve connector according to this invention ina partial longitudinal section, where the piston 304 is equipped with a valve 317, which is » levered by a concentric valve lever, which here makes up the core pin. The very valve 317on the piston 304 is constructed as in fig. 9, and thus not described any further. The piston304 is shown in a position on its way to the core of a Schrader valve, where the valve 317on top of the piston 304 is closed.The valve is opened when the core pin 318 depresses the 010740 - 14 - core of the Schrader valve, whereby this is opened concurrentlv with theopening of the valve 317 itself. Through this, the spring 316' is squeezed to-gether to such an extent that the core pin 318 always can adjust itself to differ-ent limits of the core of the Schrader valve. 5 In fig. 11 the pump hose 1 is connected to the piston 76, which moves in the housing 110, by means of clamp ring 2. An elastic body 78 with couplingsurfaces 79 (for the Dunlop-Woods and the Sclaverand valve) and 80 (for theSchrader valve) is compressed by the movable piston 76 by means of a lever102, which is pressed down from the top position 82 to the position 83, where itio is parallel with the centre line 36 of the ringclamp 2, The lever 102 turnsaround the axis 85 which is mounted in the housing 110 an_d to which the axiscentre 107 is perpendicular and which intersects the centre line 4 of theopening 8 of the coupling hole 5. The coupling surface 79 lies at a distance 'a'from the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5, while the coupling surface 80 is ad-i5 jacent to this. The area on the elastic means 78 bears against the piston 76. Thepiston air supply hole 75 has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the ma-jor diameter of the extemal thread 5V2, so that the Sclaverand valve has a natu -ral stop at its connection. Thus the coupling place for the 5V2 thread is around the 5V2 thread. :o When disconnecting, the lever 102 is released. It now automatically turns back to the rest position 82, because the elastic body 78 retums to the unstressedcondition. This is possible because the distance of the surface 118 from the axiscentre 107 is larger than the distance of the surface 120 of the lever 102 at thetop 119 of piston 76. The tum of the lever 102 stops when the plane surface 120 25 of the lever 102 stops against the fiat top 119 of the piston. The top of the lever102 is in rest position 82 under an angle Ψ of approx. 45° with the centre line 36of the ring clamp 2. At the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5, the housing 110 isequipped with a cône 15 which facilitâtes the mounting of the universal con-nector. 3o Fig. 12A, 12B, 12C show the embodiment which is a combination of the connecter of fig. 11 and the construction of the pin of fig. 5A and fig. 5B. In fig.12A, the pin 142 is shown in its top 18 position and in fig. 12B in its bottom 32position. The' construction of pin 142 and the way it works is the same as in fig.5, except that it is mounted on piston 138 by means of an edge 135 on the lower 35 end of the cylinder 136. The construction of the pin becomes air-tight by means of a gasket seal 139 between the piston 138 and the cylinder 136. The turning knob 140 is equipped with a line 141 indicating the knob 140 position. The valve Ο ί 0740 - 15 - symbols 71, 72 correspond to the position 18 of the pin 142 and the Symbol 73corresponds to the position 32 of the pin 142 resp. The turning knob 140 is fixedat the valve symbols 71, 72, 73 when the piston fits in a recess 145 (fig. 12C) inthe knob 140 with a'bulb 144: see section A-A in fig. 12A and section B-B in fig. î 12B, resp. Here too, the opening 8 of the coupling hole 5 has the centre line 4.

Fig. 13 shows an universal connector in a spécial embodiment made for thepurpose of being used in vehicle wheels with a narrow opening for the con -nector, where the connector is squeezed on the valve, and a Schrader valve isopened by means of the automatically moveable pin. In order to ease the use,io the lever arm 319 has a spécial shape, and in the reaction arm.. 320 there is made a grove 321 for the pressure hose.

Fig. 14 shows an universal connector in an embodiment, where the cou -pling is squeezed on the valve using a rubber bushing 366 with an incision 361and a torroid ring 362 in the incision, and where a Schrader valve can beis opened by means of the automatically movable pin, which is formed as a pistonand is shown in the bottom position. In order to avoid transfer of momentumforces to the vehicle valve, the surface 367 can be slightly cône shaped. Theincision 361 weaken the rubber bushing 366 at the place shown, which causesthe rubber bushing to sqeeze the threads on the valve precisely where it is 20 most convenient. When, further, torroid rings are arranged in the incisions,the force excerted on the valve threads are increased.

Fig. 15 shows an universal connector in an embodiment like the one in fig.14, but where the automatically movable pin is selfadjusting to production tol-érances of the core of the Schrader valves. 25

Claims (33)

1. Valve connecter for connecting to inflation valves of vehicle tyres, comprising - a housing to be connected to a pressure source, - within the housing a coupling hole having a central axis and an inner diameter s approximately corresponding to the outer diameter of the inflation valve to which thevalve connecter is to be connected, and - an activating pin for engaging with a central spring-force operated valve lever of theinflation valve, the activating pin being situated in continuation of the coupling holecoaxially with the central axis thereof, io characterized by the fact that - the housing (302) comprises a cylinder (303), and a piston (304) is positioned in saidcylinder (303) movably between a first position and second position,. - the activating pin is connected to said piston (304) through a piston rod (312),and is - the housing (302) comprises means for conducting gaseous media from the pressuresource to said cylinder (302) in order to move said piston (304) between said secondposition and said first position.

2. Valve connecter for connecting to inflation valves of vehicle tyres, comprising - a housing to be connected to a pressure source, 2o - within the housing a coupling hole having a central axis and an inner diameter approximately corresponding to the outer diameter of the inflation valve to which thevalve connecter is to be connected, characterised by the fact that it comprises within the coupling hole (5) inflation valve sealing means (12a, 13a,79, 25 80,80a, 192,194) for sealing the valve connecter onto inflation valves of various types and/or sizes.

3. Valve connecter according to claim 1 or 2 characterised by the fact that - said inflation valve sealing means (12a, 13a,79,80,80a, 192,194,330,332) comprise afirst annular portion (13a,80,194,332) and a second annular portion (12a,79,192,330) 3o situated coaxially with the center axis (4) of the coupling hole (5), - in the direction of the centre axis (4), said first annular portion (13a,80,194,332) is 0î 0740 17 doser to the opening (8) of the coupling hole (5) than said second annular portion(12a,79,192,330) and - the inner diameter of said first annular portion (13a,80,194,332) is larger than theinner diameter of said second annular portion (12a,79,192,330). î

4. Valve connector according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said firstannular portion (13a, 194,332) and said second annular portion (12a, 192,330) are se-perate parts.

5. Valve connector according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized by the fact thatit comprises within the coupling hole a securing thread (7,9) for securing the valve îo connector onto the inflation valve.

6. Valve connector according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that itcomprises with a bushing (6,191,340), which is - attached on the housing (3,190,341), rotatably around the centre axis (4), - sealed to the housing (3,190,341) by said second annular portion (12a), and i5 - secured to the housing (3,190,341) by permanent (10) and/or semi-detachable secu-ring means (339), wherein said bushing comprises said securing thread (7,9) and said first annular portion(13a, 194,332), and the housing (3,190,341) and/or said second annular portion compri-ses means (198) for stopping the coupling movement of the inflation valve. 2o

7. Valve connector according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that saidbushing (191,340) is an outer bushing and comprises an inner bushing (193,331),which is - essentially non-rotatably attached to said outer bushing (191,340) by means of a set oftaper milled slave means (196) in said inner bushing (193,331) and corresponding 25 master steering means (197) in said outer bushing (191,340) distributed around thebushing circumference, and - axially movable within said outer bushing (191,340) and the housing (190,341),wherein said second annular portion (194) is step-formed, resting on a correspondingmilling, so that the.part of the step-formed second annular portion with the highest step » lies closest to the centerline (4).

8. Valve connector according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that said 18 010740 second annular portion (194) comprises a first part (330) and a second part (333), ofwhich said second part (333) - is positioned farther from the centre axis (4) than said first part (330), • is secured to the housing (341) by an undercut groove, - is arrangned to seal said inner bushing (341) to said housing when the valve connecteris coupled to an inflation valve, using said bushing as securing means and/or sealingmeans.

9. Valve connecter according to any daims 2-8, characterized by the fact that thehousing consists of two portions with a predetermined angle between their respectivecentre axes, which angle is in the interval 30° - 60°.

10. Valve connecter according to claim 1 or 3, characterized by the fact that saidfirst annular portion (80) and said second annular portion (79) are portions of a singlepart (78).

11. Valve connecter according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that itcomprises within the coupling hole a temporary securing thread (79,80) for securing thevalve connecter onto the inflation valve.

12. Valve connecter according to claim 11 characterized by the fact that itcomprises - a lever arm (102,319) movable between a first position (82) and a second position(83), and - within the coupling hole a déformable bushing (78,366); wherein said déformable bushing is arranged to be influenced by the movement of saidlever arm so that it becomes deformed when said lever arm is in its said second posi-tion and not deformed when said lever arm is in its said first position, the deformedState corresponding to the formation of temporary securing thread onto the surface ofdéformable bushing when the valve connecter is coupled to an inflation valve.

13. Valve connecter according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that saidlever arm (102,319) is U-shaped and comprises an axis (85) around which said leverarm is movable between said first position and said second position.

14. Valve connecter according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that it furthercomprises a reaction arm (320) for enabling a gripping hold of the lever arm (319) and 19 010740 the reaction arm (320).

15. Valve connecter according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the hou-sing means (35,134,164,302,368) comprises an activating pin (40,142,161) for enga-ging with a central spring-force operated valve lever of the inflation valve, s - said activating pin being positioned in said housing means co-axially with the centreaxis (4) of the opening (8) of the coupling hole (5) and movably between an activeposition (32) and one or more inactive positions (18) for - enabling the continuons conduction of gaseous media between the pressuresource and the inflation valve when said activating pin is in said active position to (32) and an inflation valve of a first type and first size is connected to the valve connecter, and - enabling the coupling of other types and sizes of inflation valves and/orinhibiting the continuous conduction of gaseous media between the pressuresource and the said inflation valve when the activating pin is in any of said b inactive positions (18).

16. Valve connecter according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that itcomprises a knob (43,162), which is - sealed and secured to the housing (35,164) by sealing means (70,168) and a securingmeans (68,163), 2o - rotatable around the centre axis (4), - arranged to move said activating pin (49,161) by means of a master feeding mecha-nism (48,165) and a master steering mechanism (51,166), which co-operate with aslave feeding mechanism (51,166) and a slave steering mechanism (51) of said activa-ting pin, wherein said activating pin is arranged to move, as a response to the move- 25 ment of said knob, axially between an inactive position (18) and said active position(32).

16 010740 130198 PATENT CLAIMS

17. Valve connecter according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that saidactivating pin said activating pin (40) is arrangend te tum around its longitudinal axisin addition to moving axially. μ

18. Valve connecter according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that - said knob (43) is arranged to tum approximately 270° between a first position (44) 20 0 1 0 7 4 0 and a second position (45), wherein said first position corresponds to an inactive posi-tion (18) of said activating pin (40,161) and said second position corresponds to theactive position (32) of said activating pin, - said knob comprises master locking means (46,55,56,57,58) which co-operate withslave locking means (51) of the activating pin, and - the valve connecter comprises the symbols of Dunlop-Woods (72) and Sclaverand(Presta) (71) valves in association of said first position of said knob and the Symbol ofa Schrader valve (73) in association of said second position of said knob.

19. Valve connecter according to claim 1 or 14, characterized by the fact that - said cylinder (303), the activating pin and/or the housing (302) comprise sealingmeans and valve means for - enabling the continuous conduction of gaseous media between the pressuresource and the inflation valve when the piston is in said first position and - inhibiting the continuous conduction of gaseous media between the pressuresource and the inflation valve when the piston is in said second position. - said sealing means comprise means (305) for sealing the edge of said piston (304)against the wall of said cylinder (303) at least when the piston (304) is in its secondposition, - said piston (304) is additionally movable ffom said second position further to a thirdposition.

20. Valve connecter according to claim 19 characterized by the fact that the wallof said cylinder (303) comprises channeling means (307) for enabling the conduction ofgaseous media past the edge of said piston (304) when said piston (304) is in its thirdposition.

21. Valve connecter according to claim 19 characterized by the fact that the hou-sing (302) comprises piston control means (308) for guiding the movement of saidpiston (304) and the activating pin in the direction of the central axis (4) of the coup-ling hole.

22. Valve connecter according to claim 19 characterized by the fact that the hou-sing (302) comprises the wall of said cylinder (303) for guiding the movement of saidpiston (304) and the activating pin in the direction of the central axis (4) of the coup- 21 010740 Iing hole.

23. Valve connecter according to claim 21 or 22 characterized by the fact that saidsealing means comprise means (311) for sealing the outer surface of the activating pinagainst the surface of sâid piston control means (308).

24. Valve connecter according to claim 21 or 22 characterized by the fact that the activating pin comprises channeling means (306) for enabling the conduction ofgaseous media past the activating pin between the activating pin and the piston control means (308) when said piston (304) is in its third position. /

25. Valve connecter according to daims 1,19,21 or 22, characterized by the factio that said piston (304) and piston rod (312) comprise a channel (309’,310) therethrough connecting the volume of said cylinder (303) to an orifice on the surface of said pistonrod (312), wherein the mutual positioning of said orifice and said sealing means is suchthat - said orifice is doser to the coupling hole than said sealing means when said pistonis (304) is in its first position, enabling the conduction of gaseous media through said channel (309’,310) between the volume of said cylinder (303) and the coupling holewhen said piston (304) is in said first position and - said sealing means are doser to the coupling hole than said orifice when said piston(304) is in its second position, inhibiting the conduction of gaseous media through said » channel (309’,310) between the volume of said cylinder and the coupling hole whensaid piston is in said second position.

26. Valve connecter according to claim 1 or 14, characterized by the fact that itcomprises a valve element (317) mounted centrally within said piston (304) and beingaxially movable in relation to said piston between a closed position and a open position.

27. Valve connecter accoring to claim 26, characterized by the fact that it comprises - a spring (316) for pulling said valve element (317) towards said closed position and - a valve lever (315) reaching eccentrically through said piston (304) and/or said pistonrod (312) for pushing said valve element towards said open position when said piston » (304) is in said first position.

28. Valve connecter according to claim 26, characterized by the fact that said 22 010740 valve element (317) comprises - a core pin (318) reaching concentrically through said piston (304) and/or piston rod (12) and - a spring (316') for pushing said valve element towards said open position.

29 Valve connecter according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the déformable5 bushing (366) comprises an incision (361) around its outer surface.

30. Valve connector according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the cross-sectionof the déformable bushing in the direction of its longitudinal axis is H-formed, withapproximately the middle horizontal section of the H having a gap.

31. Valve connector according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that said lever arm 10 (319) is arranged to lock into said first position and said second position.

32. A pump for human-powered operation by hand or foot for inflating a vehicle tire,characterized by the fact that it comprises attached hereto a valve connector according toclaim l.

33. A pump for human-powered operation by hand or foot for inflating a vehicle tire,15 characterized by the fact that it comprises attached hereto a valve connector according to claim 2.